Our primary mission is to become the premier advocacy organization related to body image disturbances and/or eating concerns within the athlete community.
Ivy Watts
Mental Health Empowerment Speaker & Author of You Are Worth Fighting For
"As a former DII student-athlete who struggled with mental health issues, I understand the pressures and expectations an athlete faces during the college years. Many of these students suffer in silence due to the stigma in athletics around mental health challenges. During on-campus presentations, my goal is to normalize their experience through the sharing of my personal story, provide hands-on and practical tools for self-care, as well as empowering them to know that reaching out for help is the strongest thing they can do for themselves. Our work together results in these athletes feeling less alone - in addition to feeling confident in their ability to begin practicing mental wellness on their own both within and outside of their sport community."
David J. Alperovitz, PsyD
Program Director, Klarman Eating Disorders Center
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry
Harvard Medical School
Please click on the video below to hear from one of our partners about RISE's extensive resources, as well as some exciting initiatives tailored to supporting the university community on behalf of students struggling with mental health concerns.
"It is crucial that all of us play a part in reducing the shame and stigma which exists in regard to this potentially life-threatening illness. We must also consider establishing affiliations which will allow for the healing to begin. I'm honored to be a part of a collaborative team that shares my passion for supporting those who find it challenging to balance a demanding athletic schedule while also managing one's academic and social life on campus. RISE looks forward to providing comprehensive support to student-athletes, as well as creating materials designed to offer guidance for both campus administrators and university-based clinicians on how to most effectively treat this unique clinical population. To learn about professional membership organizations in the athlete, eating disorder, and university community, please refer to the entities highlighted below."
- Dawn Hynes, MSW, RISE Founder
